ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

United States Merchant Marine

Okay kiddo, let's talk about the United States Merchant Marine!

You know how there are big ships that carry goods across the ocean? Like how Santa Claus travels by boat in some of the Christmas cartoons you've watched?

Well, some of those big ships are owned by the United States government and they are used to transport things like food, oil, and other important supplies. That group of ships is called the United States Merchant Marine.

The people who work on those ships are called mariners. They're kind of like the Captain of the ship, but instead of just one person, there are lots of mariners all working together to make sure the ship gets to where it needs to go safely.

The United States Merchant Marine is important because it helps our country have access to important things we need from other places in the world. It's just like how you go to the grocery store to get food, but on a much bigger scale!